I'm a nephew of the sole survivor on plane # 43-37747. My uncle has spoken a little over the years of his experiences during the war and captivity. I was prompted into action today after receiving a call from the sister of one of the crew members that was killed. She was looking for my uncle to see if he could recall who he was and if he had any stories that he could tell about him.
 
Other than what my uncle has told me over the years I realy don't know much. I've spent the better part of the day trying to find information about the plane, crew, bombing mission, where he was shot down, reasons why he survived and others perished, pictures, etc. without a lot of luck. 
 
Also- Years ago my unlce also let his nieces and nephews play with his medals. The medals have long been lost and I would like to get replacements to give to him before he dies.
 
After reading some of the posts it appears that some of you have access to resources that the rest of us do not. I would appreciate any infomation and sources that you might have.
 
Thanks,
 
Art
 
 

43-37747 729- failed to return due to flak and crashed at Boubrers, ? on 08 July 1944. MACR 7224 is available free of charge by contacting AFHRA.News@MAXWELL.AF.MIL . Your uncle, being the sole survivor, will probably have given testimony about the crash upon being repatriated at the end of the war.
 
Vic

Vic Walzel, brother of 1st Lt Leland H. Walzel, bombardier with the 93rd Bomb Group, 330th Squadron. KIA 6 March 1944 on his 25th mission.
www.lelandwalzel.150m.com

Hi Art
 
Here are the details of your Uncle's crew:
 
1st Lt. Everett G. Hanson Jr. Pilot - KIA. ASN: 0-810876.

 
2nd Lt. James H. Heinzen. Co-Pilot - KIA. ASN: 0-764305.

2nd Lt. Leonard S. Marcus. Navigator - KIA. ASN: 0-706948. Buried at Lorraine American Cemetery, St. Avold, France, Plot K, Row 23, Grave 32.

 
1st Lt. Donald J. Lyma. Bombardier - KIA. ASN: O-757730. Buried at Lorraine American Cemetery, St. Avold, France, Plot K, Row 14, Grave 27.

T/Sgt. George I. Grissom. Top Turret Gunner/Engineer - KIA. ASN: 35584405.
 
T/Sgt. Chester L. Pool. Radio Operator - KIA. ASN: 39037098.
 
S/Sgt. Lloyd P. Pohrte. Ball Turret Gunner - KIA. ASN: 36744034. Buried at Lorraine American Cemetery, St. Avold, France, Plot K, Row 35, Grave 24.
 
S/Sgt. Arthur Schulze. Left Waist Gunner - POW. ASN: 16004216.
 
S/Sgt. Russell D. Jones. Right Waist Gunner - KIA. ASN: 33562669. Buried at Ardennes American Cemetery, Neupre, Belgium, Plot C, Row 31, Grave 19.
 
S/Sgt. Van J. McManus. Tail Gunner - KIA. ASN: 34652712.
 
Where there is no burial location this means that these crewmembers were returned to the US for burial. If you are interested in the details for these crewmembers you can order copies of their Individual Deceased Personnel Files (IDPF's) from the following address:
 
293 file, Individual Deceased Personnel File - this file is maintained by the Department of the Army in Washington, DC. If the veteran you are researching was Killed in Action you will definitely want to obtain this file. This file documents the activities of the Graves Registration Command and the Army to locate, identify, and provide a final resting place for the deceased.

• 
  The U.S. Army Personnel Command handles these requests.
  
  
  
  Mailing address
  
  
  U.S. Army Personnel Command, Public Affairs Office (FOIA)
  200 Stovall Street
  Alexandria, VA 22332-0404.
  Enclosed in the letter the requestor should cite the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and provide full name of the relative, service number, and date of death (or whether the death was during WWII, Korea, or Vietnam).
  Return mailing address is required. Please allow up to 20 weeks for the research process. FOIA fees are waived for requests from family members for death/burial records on their loved ones.
  

 
Here is your Uncle's POW Record from the NARA website:
 
http://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=466&mtch=1&cat=all&tf=F&sc=11675,11660,11679,11667,11669,11676,11672,11673&q=schulze+arthur&bc=sl,fd&rpp=10&pg=1&rid=112270
 
Hope this is helpful for you.
 
Regards
 
Chris.

To request replacement medals go to research section above.
 
Go to Military Personnel Records (http://www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel/standard-form-180.html)
 
Print the form, fill out the information, have your Uncle sign and mail.
 
 

Howard Keller (LTC, USA, Ret)

My grandfather was Staff Sergeant Van Jackson McManus. He was 19 and died before my father was born.

From what I've been able to find out on the web, his remains were unidentifiable, but I don't know where they buried them...

From WWII A.G.R.S.
 
S/Sgt. Van J. McManus #34652712, temporary burial site at Solers Cemetery, Melun, France, later relocated at request of next of kin to Epinal Cemetery, Epinal, France, Plot "B" Row 38 Grave #15.
 
 
Terry T. 

Hi Art,

Housekeeping first.  As the only reported survivor was Arthur Schulze I assume that is your uncle.  There is also some confusion with the serial number of the B-17.  The Missing Air Crew Report shows 42-37747.  Typos in the original reports are not unheard of.  A second source does not clairfy as it lists 42-37747 as being lost twice and does not list 43-37747 in it's data base.  Either way we know we have the correct report with MACR 7224.  I have reviewed the MACR as posted on Footnote.com.  While it runs 30 some odd pages it unfortunately does not seem to include any eye witness statements.  I will attach several pages from that report for your information.  It will take three separate posts to get it all posted.  If you wish to see the report on footnote you will have to search under serial number 42-37747 to find it.  As far as why your uncle survived while everyone else perished ... luck ... the grace of God ...  There are reports from the Germans in the MACR that state that the other crewmen's bodies were burned.  Plane could have exploded and your uncle might have been thrown clear by the explosion.  What does he have to say about that question?

Hal


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Last page for now.  Sometimes these are easier to access if you click on the thumbnail image instead of the 'attachment'.  When the thumbnail opens, click the image again and it will open to full size.

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Art,
 
One more interesting page from the MACR.  A list of the personal effects your uncle had when he was captured.
 
Hal


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ORIGINAL: Terry T.

From WWII A.G.R.S.

S/Sgt. Van J. McManus #34652712, temporary burial site at Solers Cemetery, Melun, France, later relocated at request of next of kin to Epinal Cemetery, Epinal, France, Plot "B" Row 38 Grave #15.


Terry T. 

Thank you very much sir, I am hoping to visit the site some day.